Eugene Shrew got the best of me in the Northern Colorado vs. Colorado State basketball game. CSU just had more size and quicker athletes, but UNC hung around and ended up losing by 11--not an accurate depiction of how close it was. I had to spring for a bucket of wings after the game and take the brunt of some classic ribbing.
It comes with the territory, and all I can say is wait until next year...
Chauncey Billups is an absolute stud and, as a Nuggets fan, I couldn't be more happy with the trade. He's a big physical guard who can shoot, post, pass and rebound. Not to mention he is among a handful of point guards in the NBA who can play lock-down defense. In a down year for the Western Conference I like the Nuggets to take the fourth or fifth seed for the playoffs and FINALLY see what the second round looks like...
The Broncos should handle their business this weekend against the Raiders. Any other team coming in with a 2-8 record might get overlooked, but this is Broncos vs. Raiders. The historic rivalry game will get the blue and orange hyped and ready. I like the Broncos convincingly 27-13 and to take full control of the weakest division in football...
Finally, I want to give a shoutout to former Rockies outfielder Matt Holliday. I will thoroughly miss "Big Daddy," as he affectionately came to be known in Denver. I will miss his hustle, desire, huge bat, RBI's and most of all his character. Holliday is a helluva ball player but an even better person. He was active in the Denver community and he's a family man first.
I've been to many a Rockies game and have only seen a sweeter swing on two other Rox: a young Todd Helton in his first five years and Larry Walker in his MVP season. Other than that, no other Rockies player comes close to Holliday, and he has the best swing I've seen from a right-handed hitter other than Albert Pujols.
You will be missed Matty and best of luck in Oakland...
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Bears vs. Rams
I like my alma mater, the University of Northern Colorado Bears, to beat the Colorado State Rams tonight at Moby Arena in Ft. Collins.
Why?
Because UNC coach Tad Boyle has cojones or, to simplify things, balls...He has balls.
He took his squad into Eugene, Ore. last Friday and almost handed the Oregon Ducks a loss in the hallowed grounds calledThe Pit.
The final was 66-64, in a game the Bears probably should have won (free throws broke their back late).
He will play any opponent at any venue and has games slated against Creighton, San Diego State, Air Force and Fresno State this season. Not exactly powerhouses, but in his first two years at the helm Boyle scheduled games with Kansas and Gonzaga, among others.
I'm guessing one of the perennial tournament teams doesn't want to be the first to be knocked off by an up-and-comer, therefore no big time program is on the schedule this year.
Contrastly, Tim Miles has scheduled a weak non-conference slate. However, the Rams undoubtedly play in a tougher conference, the Mountain West, than the Bears in the Big Sky so he can't be faulted too much for that.
And on paper Miles has put together an impressive recruiting class made up of transfers, freshman and the ever-important junior college players.
My buddy, "Eugene Shrew," who passionately defends his beloved Rammies, thinks Miles is the guy for the job. His vision might be a little skewed, but I think Mr. Shrew is onto something.
I don't think Miles will turn CSU into a consistent top 25 threat, but I do think he will have the Rams competing for Mountain West championships in the next two years in an underrated basketball conference.
As for the game: I like the Bears, obviously, to win 76-66 over the Rams.
The Bears return most of their key contributors including senior forward Jabril Banks who can dominate a game with his scoring and rebounding.
The Bears ended a 21-year winless streak against the Rams last year, and you can bet they will be playing to start a streak of their own.
Why?
Because UNC coach Tad Boyle has cojones or, to simplify things, balls...He has balls.
He took his squad into Eugene, Ore. last Friday and almost handed the Oregon Ducks a loss in the hallowed grounds calledThe Pit.
The final was 66-64, in a game the Bears probably should have won (free throws broke their back late).
He will play any opponent at any venue and has games slated against Creighton, San Diego State, Air Force and Fresno State this season. Not exactly powerhouses, but in his first two years at the helm Boyle scheduled games with Kansas and Gonzaga, among others.
I'm guessing one of the perennial tournament teams doesn't want to be the first to be knocked off by an up-and-comer, therefore no big time program is on the schedule this year.
Contrastly, Tim Miles has scheduled a weak non-conference slate. However, the Rams undoubtedly play in a tougher conference, the Mountain West, than the Bears in the Big Sky so he can't be faulted too much for that.
And on paper Miles has put together an impressive recruiting class made up of transfers, freshman and the ever-important junior college players.
My buddy, "Eugene Shrew," who passionately defends his beloved Rammies, thinks Miles is the guy for the job. His vision might be a little skewed, but I think Mr. Shrew is onto something.
I don't think Miles will turn CSU into a consistent top 25 threat, but I do think he will have the Rams competing for Mountain West championships in the next two years in an underrated basketball conference.
As for the game: I like the Bears, obviously, to win 76-66 over the Rams.
The Bears return most of their key contributors including senior forward Jabril Banks who can dominate a game with his scoring and rebounding.
The Bears ended a 21-year winless streak against the Rams last year, and you can bet they will be playing to start a streak of their own.
Friday, October 17, 2008
In-State Predictions
Air Force 24 UNLV 20
I really like AFA freshman quarterback Tim Jefferson. He's tough beyond his years and, unlike many past Falcon quarterbacks, he can throw a pass when he needs too. Jefferson can also run the ball effectively and makes smart reads in the option attack. Don't forget about freshman tailback Asher Clark, who is a speedster and can grind for the tough yards too. I like the Falcons to squeak past the Runnin Rebels on the road.
Utah 28 Colorado State 6
I had the chance to see CSU live last week against Texas Christian and was really impressed with their defensive unit. They held TCU's offense down, an offense that was good enough to tromp 8th ranked BYU Thursday night. Unfortunately, the Rams offense looked like a high school cheer leading squad. The unit, despite Gartrell Johnson who is a beast, is anemic. Head coach Steve Fairchild got away from Johnson in the second half in a close game. The quarterback situation is a mess.
CSU will hold their own in the Mountain West Conference this year, but Utah is a potential BCS team with a dual-threat quarterback. Brian Johnson can hurt you with the run and the pass and he will do both against the Rams Saturday.
Kansas State 24 Colorado 17
I don't like much about CU's offense and Cody Hawkins seems to be regressing. Josh Freeman is a stud at quarterback who, like Johnson, can run and throw. But he has a pro arm similar to Jamarcus Russell of the Raiders. The Buffs defense will hold their own but the Wildcats have too many weapons and will pull away late.
Northern Colorado 77 Weber State 2
Ok, so I'm a little partial to my Alma Mater. Bryan Waggener will have a HUGE day and the Bears will dominate from the first snap. Receiver Cory Fauver will own Weber's corners. The Bears D will be staunch.
Weber will get a safety on a bad snap to the punter in the waning moments of the game to break the shutout.
Wishful thinking?
I really like AFA freshman quarterback Tim Jefferson. He's tough beyond his years and, unlike many past Falcon quarterbacks, he can throw a pass when he needs too. Jefferson can also run the ball effectively and makes smart reads in the option attack. Don't forget about freshman tailback Asher Clark, who is a speedster and can grind for the tough yards too. I like the Falcons to squeak past the Runnin Rebels on the road.
Utah 28 Colorado State 6
I had the chance to see CSU live last week against Texas Christian and was really impressed with their defensive unit. They held TCU's offense down, an offense that was good enough to tromp 8th ranked BYU Thursday night. Unfortunately, the Rams offense looked like a high school cheer leading squad. The unit, despite Gartrell Johnson who is a beast, is anemic. Head coach Steve Fairchild got away from Johnson in the second half in a close game. The quarterback situation is a mess.
CSU will hold their own in the Mountain West Conference this year, but Utah is a potential BCS team with a dual-threat quarterback. Brian Johnson can hurt you with the run and the pass and he will do both against the Rams Saturday.
Kansas State 24 Colorado 17
I don't like much about CU's offense and Cody Hawkins seems to be regressing. Josh Freeman is a stud at quarterback who, like Johnson, can run and throw. But he has a pro arm similar to Jamarcus Russell of the Raiders. The Buffs defense will hold their own but the Wildcats have too many weapons and will pull away late.
Northern Colorado 77 Weber State 2
Ok, so I'm a little partial to my Alma Mater. Bryan Waggener will have a HUGE day and the Bears will dominate from the first snap. Receiver Cory Fauver will own Weber's corners. The Bears D will be staunch.
Weber will get a safety on a bad snap to the punter in the waning moments of the game to break the shutout.
Wishful thinking?
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Nene and J.R...
Because I enjoy lists and putting together key points, here are my two X factors for the Denver Nuggets this season:
1. Nene:
Nene is coming off his bout with testicular cancer. The bruising Brazilian was able to trounce cancer and hit the court at the end of the 07-08 season. And he didn't look that bad.
Nene was quite rusty but his energy and passion were evident. He was just thrilled to be back on the court and out of a hospital bed. It was nice to see some physical defense, which is lacking from every other player on the roster.
The Nuggets are banking on the big guy for big-time numbers this season. If Nene doesn't average 15 points and 10 rebounds , the Nuggets will fall short of the playoffs. We saw glimpses of what is possible from Nene two years ago when he averaged 12 and 7. He was poised for a breakout year until the setback with cancer.
If I were a betting man, I would bank on Nene posting the benchmark of 15 and 10 this season. He has been relentless with Nuggets strength coach Steve Hess in his off season workouts and conditioning. This is huge because, in the past, Nene has been inclined to enjoy one too many donuts in the off season.
Overall, the big fella will end up getting votes for most-improved player or, better yet, comeback player of the year. Nene is strong, physical and in shape.
2. J.R. Smith:
Career year+new contract+willingness to play defense=SUPERSTAR!
Smith has some of the best raw athleticism in the league. When he dropped 27 in the fourth quarter against Chicago last season I knew the guy was legit. And he was handsomely rewarded by the front office this offseason with a three-year deal around $16 million.
But lets be honest; he has never seen a bad shot and his defense is lackluster at best. Smith is without question a premier athlete and I would assume he could learn to play better defense and take smarter shots.
In all the reports this summer Smith has said all the right things. He has also worked hard to improve his defense by training with Team U.S.A in Las Vegas.
The thing about it is Smith could be a helluva defensive player if he put his mind to it. He could be a steals specialist with the kind of quickness he possesses. If he starts anticipating passes better he will start to disrupt passing lanes and put on a highlight film on the other end.
And if Smith can just shoot the way he shot last year (40 percent on 3's), without the occasional bonehead 40-footer, he could vie for the 6th man award.
There are a lot of "ifs" and "maybes" with Smith, but if things go the right way he has the potential to be great.
1. Nene:
Nene is coming off his bout with testicular cancer. The bruising Brazilian was able to trounce cancer and hit the court at the end of the 07-08 season. And he didn't look that bad.
Nene was quite rusty but his energy and passion were evident. He was just thrilled to be back on the court and out of a hospital bed. It was nice to see some physical defense, which is lacking from every other player on the roster.
The Nuggets are banking on the big guy for big-time numbers this season. If Nene doesn't average 15 points and 10 rebounds , the Nuggets will fall short of the playoffs. We saw glimpses of what is possible from Nene two years ago when he averaged 12 and 7. He was poised for a breakout year until the setback with cancer.
If I were a betting man, I would bank on Nene posting the benchmark of 15 and 10 this season. He has been relentless with Nuggets strength coach Steve Hess in his off season workouts and conditioning. This is huge because, in the past, Nene has been inclined to enjoy one too many donuts in the off season.
Overall, the big fella will end up getting votes for most-improved player or, better yet, comeback player of the year. Nene is strong, physical and in shape.
2. J.R. Smith:
Career year+new contract+willingness to play defense=SUPERSTAR!
Smith has some of the best raw athleticism in the league. When he dropped 27 in the fourth quarter against Chicago last season I knew the guy was legit. And he was handsomely rewarded by the front office this offseason with a three-year deal around $16 million.
But lets be honest; he has never seen a bad shot and his defense is lackluster at best. Smith is without question a premier athlete and I would assume he could learn to play better defense and take smarter shots.
In all the reports this summer Smith has said all the right things. He has also worked hard to improve his defense by training with Team U.S.A in Las Vegas.
The thing about it is Smith could be a helluva defensive player if he put his mind to it. He could be a steals specialist with the kind of quickness he possesses. If he starts anticipating passes better he will start to disrupt passing lanes and put on a highlight film on the other end.
And if Smith can just shoot the way he shot last year (40 percent on 3's), without the occasional bonehead 40-footer, he could vie for the 6th man award.
There are a lot of "ifs" and "maybes" with Smith, but if things go the right way he has the potential to be great.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Ryder Cup Love
Congrats to the Americans, who captured their first Ryder Cup since 1999.
They won in the heart of America, Val Halla Golf Club in Kentucky. They beat the snot out of the Euros, who came in confident after plastering the Americans in recent years.
Three factors that led to the United States' triumphant victory.
1. No Tiger Woods:
You see this in basketball every close game. In the 90's the Chicago Bulls would stand around and watch Michael Jordan at the end of games. It was up to Jordan to bail his team out in difficult situations. The same scenario occurs in Los Angeles when the Lakers watch Kobe Bryant dominate the ball in late game situations. It is human nature to rely on the best teammate.
But the Americans had no Tiger this year, creating a team chemistry that was apparent. They weren't standing around waiting for Tiger to do something; they were taking it upon themselves to make something happen. Without the best player in the planet, the Americans relished the role of underdogs--and took advantage.
2. Paul Azinger:
The captain, who always had Europe Captain Nick Faldo's number in their playing days, shoved it to him again over the weekend. He paired the Americans wisely. Anthony Kim with Phil Mickelson: genius. The young and brash Kim got Mickelson's juices flowing more than I have ever seen out of lefty.
Azinger's pairing of J.B. Holmes with Boo Weekley was perfect. Pairing two small-town country boys who just don't know any better worked out ideally--the two earned one and a half points out of two possible on Friday and Saturday.
And Weekley energized the crowd, making the gallery sound more like a Kentucky football game than one of the premiere golf tournaments in the world.
3. Anthony Kim:
Can you say coming out party?
The southern California native has officially arrived among golf's premier players. Kim paired solidly with Mickelson. He was the perfect teammate, high-fiving at every turn. But Sunday is when Kim made his mark.
He trumped one of Europe's most clutch Ryder Cup players in Sergio Garcia. It wasn't even close--and yet Kim was so focused on the moment he didn't even realize he had won.
Kim will be around for years to come, and with proper direction, could challenge Tiger in two years.
So, good work America. The Cup is back in the states--where it should be.
They won in the heart of America, Val Halla Golf Club in Kentucky. They beat the snot out of the Euros, who came in confident after plastering the Americans in recent years.
Three factors that led to the United States' triumphant victory.
1. No Tiger Woods:
You see this in basketball every close game. In the 90's the Chicago Bulls would stand around and watch Michael Jordan at the end of games. It was up to Jordan to bail his team out in difficult situations. The same scenario occurs in Los Angeles when the Lakers watch Kobe Bryant dominate the ball in late game situations. It is human nature to rely on the best teammate.
But the Americans had no Tiger this year, creating a team chemistry that was apparent. They weren't standing around waiting for Tiger to do something; they were taking it upon themselves to make something happen. Without the best player in the planet, the Americans relished the role of underdogs--and took advantage.
2. Paul Azinger:
The captain, who always had Europe Captain Nick Faldo's number in their playing days, shoved it to him again over the weekend. He paired the Americans wisely. Anthony Kim with Phil Mickelson: genius. The young and brash Kim got Mickelson's juices flowing more than I have ever seen out of lefty.
Azinger's pairing of J.B. Holmes with Boo Weekley was perfect. Pairing two small-town country boys who just don't know any better worked out ideally--the two earned one and a half points out of two possible on Friday and Saturday.
And Weekley energized the crowd, making the gallery sound more like a Kentucky football game than one of the premiere golf tournaments in the world.
3. Anthony Kim:
Can you say coming out party?
The southern California native has officially arrived among golf's premier players. Kim paired solidly with Mickelson. He was the perfect teammate, high-fiving at every turn. But Sunday is when Kim made his mark.
He trumped one of Europe's most clutch Ryder Cup players in Sergio Garcia. It wasn't even close--and yet Kim was so focused on the moment he didn't even realize he had won.
Kim will be around for years to come, and with proper direction, could challenge Tiger in two years.
So, good work America. The Cup is back in the states--where it should be.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Buffs To Nudge Way Into Top 25
A quick prediction for tonight's University of Colorado vs. University of West Virginia Football game: CU 40 WV 37.
This will be a high flying shootout with little defense from either squad. It is quite possible the last team to score will decide the outcome.
CU has a better passing offense with sophomore Cody Hawkins under center, but senior Patrick White is certainly dynamic at the helm for West Virginia in their spread option run attack.
The obvious key: Make White beat you with his arm and not his legs. I have watched White gash defense after defense with his freakish speed and ability to stop on a dime.
Load the box, and if he completes 30 passes, so be it. But that is unlikely.
Hawkins will need some help from blue chip running back Darrell Scott. The kid is a horse, at 215pounds, but he needs to improve his vision and cut back ability. This ain't Eastern Washington, and he will have to grow up in a hurry.
Watch for Hawkins to hit wideout Scottie McKnight all night. The junior McKnight is a master at precise intermediate routes.
When West Virgina crowds McKnight in the slot, look for Hawkins to take a shot at sophomore wideout Josh Smith down the field. Smith's speed is devastating, and one big play out of him can deflate a defense.
So, the game will be close but in the end Buffs fans will be singing "Glory, Glory Colorado!"
And CU will crack the top 25 by next Monday.
~Peter Rossi
This will be a high flying shootout with little defense from either squad. It is quite possible the last team to score will decide the outcome.
CU has a better passing offense with sophomore Cody Hawkins under center, but senior Patrick White is certainly dynamic at the helm for West Virginia in their spread option run attack.
The obvious key: Make White beat you with his arm and not his legs. I have watched White gash defense after defense with his freakish speed and ability to stop on a dime.
Load the box, and if he completes 30 passes, so be it. But that is unlikely.
Hawkins will need some help from blue chip running back Darrell Scott. The kid is a horse, at 215pounds, but he needs to improve his vision and cut back ability. This ain't Eastern Washington, and he will have to grow up in a hurry.
Watch for Hawkins to hit wideout Scottie McKnight all night. The junior McKnight is a master at precise intermediate routes.
When West Virgina crowds McKnight in the slot, look for Hawkins to take a shot at sophomore wideout Josh Smith down the field. Smith's speed is devastating, and one big play out of him can deflate a defense.
So, the game will be close but in the end Buffs fans will be singing "Glory, Glory Colorado!"
And CU will crack the top 25 by next Monday.
~Peter Rossi
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